Blood Blockade Battlefront (Review)
Blood Blockade Battlefront Manages to Make Old Tropes New Again.
Bones studio has managed to do it again with Blood Blockade Battlefront. It’s a series so incredibly unique and yet at the same time so familiar that it’s hard not to get sucked in from the first episode. What really makes it stand out though is that the hero is far from the strongest character. In fact, he’s pretty pathetic and even gets bullied by the other heroes. In the end, though he proves to be a more than a worthwhile protagonist and probably one of my favorites in recent memory. Those looking for a fresh take on recognizable tropes will love the creativity of Blood Blockade Battlefront.
The series follows Leonardo Watch (Aaron Dismuke) a newcomer to Hell Salem’s Lot or what was once New York City before a portal to another dimension opened it up to demons, vampires, and pretty much every other supernatural creature you might expect. While Leonardo might be a fish out of water he manages to get his feet underneath him pretty quickly, thanks to the All-Seeing Eyes of the Gods he was granted. Unfortunately, his gift is coveted by all sorts of evildoers and he has to join a secret organization called Libra in order to protect himself and the city.
Despite the fact that Blood Blockade Battlefront is incredibly episodic in its structure, it subtly plants seeds that continue to bear fruit throughout the series. The fact that everything comes around makes it one of the smarter anime I’ve seen in a long time. While the series is split into two separate seasons (Blood Blockade Battlefront and Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond), they flow together perfectly. At its core, the anime is a supernatural action-adventure, but that doesn’t stop it from having plenty of humorous episodes, such as one where three characters go on a quest to find a place to eat that they all can agree on/survive.
What’s so impressive about Blood Blockade Battlefront is the fact that it’s ridiculous and amazing at the same time. The animation style lends itself well to the jokes (mostly at the expense of Leonardo) and caricatures the characters during the more ridiculous moments. However, when it gets series the animation is absolutely beautiful and the action sequences fluid and invigorating. Not to mention that the attention to detail is mind-blowing. Of all the recent series I’ve seen in recent years, none come close to having the beautiful backgrounds and incredibly designed supporting characters. Even if they only appear for a few moments on screen, Bones never gets lazy when it comes to the residents of Hell Salem’s Lot.
While so many series have a hero that wants to be the best or are already ridiculously overpowered that’s far from the case in this anime. Leonardo has absolutely no combat abilities, which means he has to use his special gift in creative ways to survive long enough for backup to arrive. Luckily, the other members of Libra are more than a match for most adversaries. What makes them so unique though is that most of them turn their own blood into weapons, similar to Deadman Wonderland. Their skills are based on ancient forms of sorcery/ martial arts, which means you get plenty of chances to hear the names of the techniques they use. It gets corny at times, but it also stirs up a sense of nostalgia for series like Power Rangers or Kamen Rider. Luckily, directors Shigehito Takayanagi and Rie Matsumoto never overdo it.
With so many crazy characters coming from the demonic realm, Blood Blockade Battlefront never misses a chance to get creative. From food that bites back to bizarre gods that descend from the sky, there’s never a dull moment in Hell Salem’s Lot. While the city might be a far cry from the Big Apple that once stood there, it still embraces the melting pot spirit of New York City. That’s probably why this is such a perfect setting for the anime. In fact, it’s pretty refreshing to see an anime that’s not set in Japan or Tokyo (or some sort of MMO). Don’t worry though, because the characters are far from the typical cliched Americans that you see in so many other anime.
Blood Blockade Battlefront is exactly the kind of anime I love. It’s fun, exciting, action-packed, and has a keen sense of humor. Best of all, it’s incredibly creative and really stands out from so many other series I’ve seen recently. Sure there are plenty of cliches still littered about, but the spin put on the makes them feel new again. If you love supernatural series then you’re going to really enjoy Blood Blockade Battlefront. If you don’t, well, you’re still probably really going to enjoy it.
